The GSM subscriber base stood at 69.70 crore at the end of February. COAI, which represents telecom players like Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Aircel said the data does not include GSM subscriber number of Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices.

It has also stopped reporting the GSM numbers of state-run BSNL. Reliance Jio Infocomm had also joined the body but the company is yet to start telecom services.